Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) is an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to determine the fine scale elemental composition of Martian surface materials designed for the Perseverance rover as part of the Mars 2020 mission.[1][2]
Mars Perseverance rover - PIXL studies a rock (artist concept)
PIXL is manufactured and made by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Science objectives
editThe scientific objectives of the instrument are the following:[3]
- Provide detailed geochemical assessment of past environments, habitability, and biosignature preservation potential.
- Detect any potential chemical biosignatures that are encountered and characterize the geochemistry of any other types of potential biosignatures detected.
- Provide a detailed geochemical basis for selection of a compelling set of samples for return to Earth.
Gallery
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Perseverance rover - PIXL (31 July 2014).
PIXL − first chemical maps of a single rock on Mars (20 July 2021)
PIXL imaged on Mars by the rover's navigation camera.
Perseverance analyzes Rochette rock (August 2021)
Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL)
Uncovered
Hexapod
Nightlight
Calibration
X-ray fluorescence spectrometer developed for the Perseverance rover to analyze the chemistry of surface materials.
See also
editReferences
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Scholia has a topic profile for Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry.
- ^ Webster, Guy (31 July 2014). "Mars 2020 Rover's PIXL to Focus X-Rays on Tiny Targets". NASA. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ^ "Adaptive sampling for rover X-ray lithochemistry" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-08.
- ^ "Mars 2020 Mission Perseverance Rover: PIXL".
